Adjustable can opener and funnel



1936- E. H. TOMPKINS I ADJUSTABLE CAN OPENER AND FUNNEL Filed June 28,- 1934 INVENTOR Patented Oct. 27, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE signor to Scovill Manufacturing Company,

Waterbury, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application June 28, 1934, Serial No. 732,775

6 Claims. (Cl. 221-23) This invention relates to a combined can opener and funnel, and more particularly to a can opener attachment adjustably mounted for rotation to any desired location around the bowl of a funnel.

One object of this invention is to provide a device of the above nature by means of which the side wall of a sealed can may be punctured for causing the contents of said can to flow out into the funnel.

A further object is'to provide a device of the above nature in which a can opener is rigidly attached to a shell member which is shaped to fit the funnel bowl and is adapted to have relative rotation with respect thereto.

A further object is to provide a can opener funnel attachment of the above nature which will be simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble and manipulate, compact,

1 ornamental in appearance, and very efficient and durable in use. 7

With these and other objects in view there has been illustrated on the accompanying drawing, one form in which the invention may be conveniently embodied in practice.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 represents a perspective View of the can opener attachment as it appears before assembly upon the funnel bowl.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of the assembled attachment and funnel.

Referring now to the drawing in which like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral in- 35 dicates a can opening cutter or knife having an upper V-shaped sharpened blade H and a lower outwardly offset shank I2, which is permanently secured, as by means of rivets I3, to an inwardly offset flat surface or pad I4 forming an integral part of an annular interior shell member IS.

The shell member I5 isv shaped to fit loosely within the interior surface of the bowl "5 of a funnel I1. The bowl I5 is herein illustrated as semi-spherical in shape, and preferably is flared at its upper edge l8. The annular shell member I5 is provided with a similarly shaped flange l9 which is adapted to rest upon the flange l8, and the edge of said shell flange I9 is provided with a, narrow depending skirt 2!], which is adapted to overlap the edge of the funnel flange ill (see Fig. 2).

In order to permanently secure the shell I5 rotatably upon the bowl 16, the flange I9 is provided with a plurality of initially outwardly ex- 55 tending radial lugs 2|, three in this instance,

which lugs are adapted in assembly to be bent down loosely about the edge of the funnel flange It for cooperatively connecting the funnel bowl I6 and the shell l5 together as a unit.

Attached to the bottom of the bowl l6 and communicating therewith is a spout 22 eccentrically positioned at an angle of approximately 30 degrees to the vertical axis of the bowl l5. A

handle member 23 is attached to the outside of adjacent its lower end with an integral hooked lug or finger 25, preferably sheared out of the metal thereof, and bent up to form a suitable hook for engaging the rim 26 of the can 24 in the manner of a fulcrum.

Operation In puncturing the aperture inthe side of the can 24, the latter may be tilted rearwardly about the fulcrum finger 25 withsufiicient force to cause the blade I I to penetrate the side wall of the can and shear a tongue 21 therefrom.

As clearly shown in Fig. 2, the tongue 21 will thus be forced inwardly until it strikes against the can head, producing an aperture which extends to the end of the side wall, so that when the can is allowed to remain in this position, the contents thereof will be completely drained therefrom.

One of the advantages of this device is that when the funnel is being used to fill the crank case of an automobile through the breather pipe, which is often in a position difficult to reach, the cutter Ill and shell l5 may be easily swung about the funnel bowl It to the most convenient position for the can-piercing operation.

While there has been disclosed in this specification one form in which the invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that this form is shown for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is not to be limited to the specific disclosure but may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit. In short, the invention includes all the modifications and embodiments coming within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new, and for which it is desired to secure Letters Patent, is:

1. In a can opener attachment for a funnel, a shell having a flared rim member adapted to be rotatably mounted upon the bowl of a funnel,

and a knife for piercing the side of an oil can rigidly attached to said shell whereby said shell and knife may be rotated to any desired point around the circumference of said bowl, said knife having its point extending upwardly whereby a sealed container may be pushed downwardly against said knife member to sever a portion of the side wall thereof to permit the contents to drain through said shell and funnel therebelow.

2. In a can opener attachment for a funnel, an annular member having a flared rim shaped to slidably fit over the bowl of a funnel and adapted to have relative rotation therewith, and a knife rigidly carried by said member for piercing the wall of a can at any position around the funnel bowl without moving said bowl, said knife having an upwardly extending point which is adapted to puncture an aperture in the side wall of a sealed can when the latter is pushed downwardly against said knife, whereby the contents of said can will be permitted to drain through said annular member and funnel bowl.

3. In a can opener attachment for a funnel, a shell member having a flared rim for slidably fitting over the bowl of a funnel, means on said shell member for embracing the upper edge of said bowl to lock said member to said bowl, said shell member rigidly carrying a cutter for piercing the wall of a can, said cutter having an upwardly extending point adapted to sever a portion of the side wall of a sealed can when the latter is pushed down against said cutter to permit the contents to drain through said shell and funnel bowl.

4. In a can opener attachment for a funnel, an annular member having a flared rim for loosely fitting into the bowl of a funnel, means on said annular member for loosely embracing the upper edge of said bowl, whereby said member may be adjustably rotated relative to said funnel, said member having a cutter blade fixed thereto for piercing the wall of a can, said cutter blade also having means for engaging the rim of said can to form a fulcrum when forcing said can down upon said blade, said cutter blade having an upstanding point adapted to sever a portion of the side wall of a sealed can when said side wall is pushed against it, whereby the contents of said can will drain through said annular member and funnel bowl.

5. In a can opener attachment for a flared funnel bowl, an annular member having a flared rim adapted to be loosely fitted upon said bowl and having a plurality of lugs formed to loosely embrace the flared edge of said bowl, whereby said member may be rotated on said bowl about a vertical axis, said member having a cutter blade fixed thereto and extending upwardly therefrom for piercing the side wall of a can, said cutter blade having a fulcrum hook integral therewith and adapted to be engaged by the rim of the can for supporting said can while it is swung about said hook for piercing an aperture in said side wall, said cutter blade having an upstanding point adapted to sever a portion of the side wall of a sealed can when said side wall is pushed against it, whereby the contents of said can will drain through said annular member and funnel bowl.

6. In a can opener attachment for a funnel having an outwardly flared flange at the upper end of the bowl thereof, a shell member having a flared rim shaped to loosely fit the interior of said bowl, means extending from said shell member for slidably embracing said flange for locking said shell member upon said bowl, said shell member having a cutter blade rigidly secured thereto and extending upwardly therefrom for piercing the wall of a can, said cutter blade extending beyond said shell member whereby it will sever a portion from the side wall of a sealed can when the latter is pushed against it to permit the contents to drain through said shell member and funnel bowl.

EMERSON H. TOMPKINS. 

